Laurie and Gary Dittrich – Seizing the Opportunity to Live Their Dream Life

Atop the hotel balcony of the beautiful Bellevue Syrene, Laurie Dittrich admired the sunset over Capri and Mount Vesuvius. She and her husband, Gary, were celebrating the beginning of a new chapter in their lives. They never expected that, while vacationing in Sorrento, Italy, they would discover a business opportunity that would change the course of their future. Envisioning immense potential, they embarked on an entrepreneurial venture together—hoping to create the life of their dreams. They were pleasantly surprised by how quickly they were able to establish a strong foundation that would provide for them well into the future, while enabling them to continue to pursue their love for travel.

Choosing a destination

After meeting at an athletic club in Victoria, Canada, in 1993, Laurie and Gary began their journey together and, a few years later, they married. Over the years, they worked hard in their respective careers and were thankful to have the resources to enjoy a lifestyle rich with travel—a passion they’ve always shared. Gary has run his own regional heating and gas company since 1979, and Laurie worked for the Canadian Revenue Agency as a federal auditor for 30 years.

In March of 2012, Laurie retired from her job and, two months later, she and Gary took a trip to Italy to celebrate. One evening at the hotel where they were staying, Laurie met an RFX Circle Leader, Kris Fairless, and they began talking. “She told me that she was in Italy for an RFX Trip that she’d earned. I hadn’t heard of Rodan + Fields®, but I recognized the Doctors. I asked her if the Company had plans to expand globally, and when I heard they were heading to Canada, I immediately wanted to know more,” says Laurie.

Laurie and Gary with Mark and Kris Fairless.

Booking the flights

Laurie and Gary met up with Kris and her husband, Mark, later that night. “We were all discussing what we did for a living, and when I heard direct sales, I didn’t think the business was something that would interest me or Laurie,” says Gary. “I was definitely surprised when we returned from the trip, and Laurie said she wanted to pursue the opportunity.” With her background in finance, Laurie understood the Company’s vision and believed it was a smart business move. “I spent my entire career looking at financial records, and it was clear to me that this opportunity could be huge. The Doctors had created a reputable brand and built an extremely successful business once before; there was no doubt in my mind that they would do it again, and I wanted to be a part of it,” says Laurie. “I believed Rodan + Fields was about to change the face of skin care and I wanted to be a part of that transformation.”

In April of 2013, Laurie began promoting the upcoming R+F launch in Canada. “I wanted to make sure we were ready when the time came. So, we started sharing information from the R+F pre-launch website with people who expressed interest,” says Laurie. During that time, Gary decided to spend some time learning more about the Company and the business model. “I spend a lot of time in the car for my job, so I started listening to audiobooks to educate myself on what we were getting into,” says Gary. “The more I learned, the more I realized how smart the business model actually is if done right. I originally thought this would be Laurie’s thing and that I would just support her in it, but as the vision became more clear, I became more invested.”

Laurie and Gary being recognized at the 2015 R+F Convention in Austin, Texas for their RFx achievement.

Developing the itinerary

The Dittrichs had worked diligently and consistently during the pre-launch phase, that when R+F officially opened its doors in Canada, they launched their business as Elite Level V Lexus Achievers. Laurie continued working 40 hours a week and Gary put in about 25 hours a week and, in November of 2015, they achieved RFX Circle. “I spent 39 years studying my craft and building my business so that I could provide the lifestyle we enjoy. Now, in less than a year, and in a field I knew nothing about, our R+F income has surpassed the income from my business,” says Gary. “It’s incredible that we developed this substantial organization in such a short amount of time. It just goes to show that, with the right opportunity, you can achieve things you never thought you would or could.”

Laurie and Gary at their Lexus achievement party at the University Club, May 2015.

Laurie and Gary are surprised by how much their R+F business fulfills them. “I never expected to find this experience so rewarding, but it’s been incredible to watch our team grow,” says Gary. “I’ve always worked hard, and I enjoy my job, but there was never much emotional attachment to it. With R+F, we are able to touch others’ lives—that is one of the best parts. It’s so gratifying to see how happy people are and to witness their lives changing for the better. I didn’t anticipate that personal aspect of the business.”

Laurie and Gary are grateful for the many friends they’ve made, as well as the chance to reconnect with people from their past that they’d lost touch with over the years. “The collaborative atmosphere of this community is so positive and supportive. Our team has become like a family—it’s the complete opposite of what I was used to. As an auditor, no one is ever excited to see you,” laughs Laurie. “With R+F, it feels great to be surrounded by people who voice their appreciation for your work—whether you’ve helped address their skin concerns or shared a business opportunity that is helping them to change their lives. I never imagined myself being in the position to help someone in that way, but it feels great.”

Laurie and Gary on the Canada High V Trip with their Team Vision Global achievers.

Taking in the sights

The financial flexibility that their business provides is creating more options for Laurie and Gary as they prepare for the future. The additional income is enabling Gary to work fewer hours, and he is now planning to retire from his full-time job sooner than expected. “The reality of what our finances would look like, and the fact that we would have to start budgeting things more tightly once I stopped working, had been weighing on me for some time,” says Gary. “I knew that, if we wanted to sustain our lifestyle and continue to travel, we would either need to work harder or find another source of income. Our R+F business has given me a sense of peace because I now know we can work toward financial security so that we can live the life of our dreams.”

Laurie and Gary are also looking forward to having the resources to give more freely. “We’ve always been committed to being charitable, but now we have the ability to be more generous with our donations and truly give back in ways we never imagined,” says Laurie. To support one of the many causes they’re passionate about, they are currently planning to start a foundation. “This will be the footprint we leave,” says Laurie. “Our R+F income will be left to our foundation because, at the end of the day, we never saw this coming. What better way to spend that additional income than to give back?”

Laurie and Gary enjoying a trip they earned together.

A memorable trip

The Dittrichs are looking forward to further expanding their business and helping their teammates grow. “We truly enjoy watching others achieve their goals,” says Laurie. “I’m so proud of our team and how they embraced this opportunity and believed in themselves and, because of that, are doing amazing things. Success is all about a strong work ethic and having the determination to stick with it. If you can do that, anything is possible.” Gary adds, “This opportunity has the potential to provide freedom—and what that means to each person is different. For us, wealth is not money—it’s having the time and financial freedom to do what we want, when we want to do it. Our business is allowing us to see that it’s possible to achieve that.”

The information, materials and views provided by a Rodan + Fields Independent Consultant during this presentation are her or his own and do not necessarily represent the views of Rodan + Fields. Rodan + Fields makes no representations about the accuracy of the information. The stories shared may be atypical experiences among Consultants who join the business. Actual earnings vary significantly, and no income is promised or guaranteed. Potential Consultants are urged to perform their own due diligence prior to making any decision to participate.

For information regarding earnings under the Canada R+F Compensation Plan, see the Income Disclosure Statement. We estimate that in Canada the typical plan participant will earn between $1,700 and $2,000 CAD per year.

9 Responses to “Laurie and Gary Dittrich – Seizing the Opportunity to Live Their Dream Life”

This is an amazing success story and it inspires! “With R+F, we are able to touch others’ lives” – is a great way to look at how R+F changes the financial future of people’s lives while giving Customers value with a solid line of products!

[…] We didn’t even have products yet, but we still shared as much as we could.” Dani says that Laurie and Gary Dittrich hosted corporate events in BC to help them make sense of the opportunity, and Kris and Mark […]

The Redefine Your Future blog is a small percentage of what Consultants have achieved, but does demonstrate what is possible with Rodan + Fields. There are many ways Consultants find success and enjoyment in the business, such as attaining great skin, gaining valuable business skills, and building relationships. Disclaimer: Personal testimonials reflect individual experiences of Rodan + Fields Consultants. Rodan & Fields, LLC makes no guarantee as to the amount of income, if any, that Consultants participating in the business opportunities described on this website will generate. As with any business, each Consultant’s business results may vary, and will be based on, among other factors, such Consultant’s individual capacity, business experience, expertise, and motivation. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the information on this website and are urged to perform their own due diligence prior to making any decision to enroll. For more information regarding earnings under the R+F Compensation Plan, see the Income Disclosure Statement.